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WPIAL Notebook: Preseason winds down, plus key dates in 2021 season, rules changes

Photo courtesy Ed Thompson

We’ve reached the official start of high school soccer season, as all teams across the district put in training beginning August 16, many of them putting in the work with two-a-day sessions and now they’ve been scrimmaging for the past week or so.

In this first edition of the WPIAL notebook we hope to help you get caught back up to speed with everything.

PRESEASON — OFF & RUNNING

PRESEASON SCRIMMAGES OF NOTE

 

DELLAROSE NOT PLAYING HER SENIOR SEASON 

PSN Contributor Ed Rosensteel shared a few weeks ago that Brownsville standout Tessa Dellarose, a North Carolina commit, is not playing for the high school team this season.

The forward scored 33 goals last year. Has 108 goals in her career.

HS ALL-AMERICAN GAMES TO INCLUDE WPIAL PLAYERS 

The 2021 High School All-American soccer games will be played Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla.

Ten senior players from WPIAL schools are on the All-American games watch list, which came out Wednesday, including eight girls.

Those on the watch list include:

Girls

Madeline Boulos, F, Deer Lakes

Tessa Dellarose, F, Brownsville

Tatum Gretz, MF, Greensburg Central Catholic

Sydney Lindeman, MF, Franklin Regional

Jillian Marvin, D, Peters Township

Cecilia Scott, D, Peters Township

Jayden Sharpless, F, North Catholic

Renae Mohrbacher, F, Freedom

Boys

Anthony DiFalco, F, Franklin Regional

Daniel Sassak, F, Belle Vernon

COACHING CHANGES OF NOTE

While there’s probably too many to include in this section, here are some of the key coaching changes that we are aware of around the district:

Boys:

  • Belle Vernon – Al Yeschenko
  • Deer Lakes – Aaron Smith
  • Franklin Regional –
  • Greensburg Central Catholic – Rob Fabean
  • Highlands – Jakub Kasprzyk
  • Shaler – Tyler Schulz

Girls:

  • Upper St. Clair – Zach Hamilton
  • Moon – Bill Pfeifer (note — Pfeifer was at Moon from 2001-17)
  • Bethel Park – Rob Heuler
  • Norwin – Diane Metzger

If you know of any other coaching changes of note, please feel free to share with us (DM @pghsoccernow on Twitter or email us)

CLASSIFICATIONS / REALIGNMENT 

As this is not a year when we typically see any drastic or wholesale realignment, but there still had to be some slight adjustments made for this coming season in some of the lower classifications due to a few school closing and coop’s.

We updated this in July, and posted the link to this story below

WPIAL forced to realign some boys soccer sections for 2021 season

 

RULES CHANGES & UPDATES 

PIAA recently published its 2021-22 Soccer Preseason Bulletin that typically contains the latest updates and rules changes.

There appear to be no significant changes relating to the Rules of the Game.

However, there was an change relating to Head coverings worn for religious reasons.

 

KEY DATES IN 2021 WPIAL/PIAA SOCCER SEASON 

First Practice Date                                           Monday, August 16
First Inter-School/Scrimmage                         Saturday, August 21
First Regular Season Play                                Friday, September 3

WPIAL Playoffs (2021) 

Bracket Selection Day   

Wednesday, October 20

First Round  

Saturday, October 23

Monday, October 25

Quarterfinal Round  

Wednesday, October 27

Thursday, October 28

Semifinal Round   

Saturday, October 30

Monday, November 1

Finals (Highmark Stadium)    

Friday, November 5

Saturday, November 6

Last Regular Season Contest Date and District Championship Deadline

Saturday, November 6

PIAA Soccer Championships (2021):

First Round  

Tuesday, November 9

Quarterfinals

Saturday, November 13

Semi-Finals    

Tuesday, November 16

PIAA Soccer Championships (Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey)

2A & 4A Boys & Girls

Friday, November 19

1A & 3A Boys & Girls  

Saturday, November 20


We are looking forward to sharing more in the coming weeks as we prepare for the season ahead.

Also, please keep in mind, that don’t expect to see any preseason rankings for High School soccer teams on Pittsburgh Soccer Now. It’s just not something believe can be done fairly as it’s way too difficult gage teams.  Late in the season, prior to the release of the playoff brackets, is the best time to take a look and see how the playoff teams stack up against each other, but for now, early in the season, we’ll be focused on posting daily results each night.

We will also be on site for occasional featured games this season (look for our schedule to be released soon of games that have been confirmed).  If you are interested

Look for our Players to Watch lists coming this week and more!

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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